Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

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  Fun At Last! - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By Mootarjim - March 21 - 10:00 am

  So I just got my MP5. It really does handle the road just as well as youve heard, especially considering the under-20K price tag. Plenty of zip from the 130hp 2.0, and not as bumpy as Id expected. The interior is excellent, and the black cloth will stay "clean" much longer than other colors. Gas mileage is a little sub-par, but this is the most fun Ive had driving in a long time, so Im gonna overlook its thirst at the pumps. I looked at the Corolla, Matrix, Civic, and Sentra before getting my new Yellow MP5. Great car for the money, and much more fun than anything in its class.

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  Zoom-Zoom - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By Predator - March 16 - 2:00 am

  probably the most versitile, enonomical, fun-to-drive car on the market. Right at home in bumper-to- bumper traffic or carving up the twisties on a country road.

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  Great wagon and easy on the wallet - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By iusta - March 15 - 10:00 am

  Other than the power vacancy, this car is awesome. Great style, incredibly comfortable seats, plenty of room for my dog. What the car lacks in straight-line acceleration, it makes up for in handling. Also, the car is wonderfully forgiving on the highway. Makes the miles slide by comfortably. After driving a Jeep Cherokee for the last three years, Im happy to get into a reliable and affordable car that fits all of my needs. And besides, Id just get in trouble with the law if the car was as fast as Id like it to be.

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  Awesome little car - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By acroy - March 10 - 9:23 pm

  We have 7 yrs and 105k. We like how it looks, drives, and handles. It’s been very reliable, very practical. It is sporty and involving. 5 spd drivetrain is responsive, a bit noisy but not bad. Mileage is 28 mpg mixed. Ride is firm and responsive. 195 width tires are not common but 205 are easy to find. Reliability is outstanding. I redid the brakes at 40k and nothing since. Interior fits like a glove, Mazda knows sport ergonomics. Supportive seats etc. Build quality is great. No loose trim, leaks, suspension wearing out, etc. It rides and feels solid. Overall: for the money you can get more mpg, more space, more cush. But you will not get more combined fun & practicality.

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  Protege5: Good, not great - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By rdcasey - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I had a 99 VW Jetta before buying this. Especially for longer distances, cant beat the Jetta for comfort, style and fun. The Protege5 is a great looker, but doesnt have the nice interior touches (lighting, seats, Monsoon stereo, materials) of the Jetta. Its MUCH lighter everywhere (doors, panels) and doesnt have the heavy, German clunk feel of the Jetta. The Jettas ride is much smoother...the Protege5 is tuned to feel the road - a bit too much - but it does corner great. But so did the Jetta.

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  The car that I waited for years - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By Lenin Rincon - February 1 - 10:00 am

  great design, performance and fun to drive

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  Mazdas comeback!!! - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By jammocaz - December 25 - 2:00 am

  I am very pleased with this vehicle. I got a great deal! I am so glad mazda set the pace for others to follow!(hatchback market) The competition is stiff but mazda comes out a notch ahead!

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  Again&Again&Again&Again.... - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By bgfeordjr - December 25 - 2:00 am

  I love Proteges,I bought wife an LX & Pro5 for me. Remarkable car for the money. Perfect steering. Five-speed is fun & not too long in the throw. Ample power, with 2300 through 4000 rpm producing very good response. Weighs 2716 & produces 135 feet pounds of torque. Beauty of the car as a commuter--dont need peak rpms to get power/gets more than 30 mpg. Id have liked some choice in the interior colors, but dark charcoal looks very nice with the Black Mica exterior(found some silvery-grey floor mats that look great). One word describes exterior-BEAUTIFUL. Thanks Mazda(and Browns) for the wonderful car at the great price(less than 15K).

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  P5 Good but Not Great - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By rbb4u - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Its fun, nimble, great value, but as predicted, signficantly underpowered with wind and road noise near limit. Periodic 1st gear (when cold-up to 5min)clutch slip (which, naturally, dealer cant replicate) is crazy making. Gets lot of attention - even in upscale sections of LA where seeing 10 SL500s a day is norm. Hope MAZDASPEED stuff is affordable. Thats next.

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  Sweet suspension - 2002 Mazda Protege5
  By cdnt48 - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned more than 30 new cars (mostly sporty) and this is the second- best handling car after my Toyota MR2